Adapters for Use with an Anesthetic Vaporizer

ABSTRACT

An adapter includes a base connectable to an anesthetic agent container, a spout that extends from the base and defines at least one flow path therethrough, and a valve assembly disposed within the at least one flow path, the valve assembly being moveable between a first open position and a second closed position. The adapter also includes a radially expandable seal disposed about the spout, the seal having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate region between the first and second ends that expands radially outward relative to a longitudinal axis of the spout. The valve assembly has a surface that cooperates with the seal, wherein the cooperation between the surface and the seal expands the intermediate region radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis with the valve assembly in the first position.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/617,076, filedDec. 28, 2006 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,784,504, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/437,904, filed May 19, 2006,which claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 60/779,466, filed Mar. 6,2006, and U.S. Ser. No. 60/788,517, filed Mar. 31, 2006, all of whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in thepresent application.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure generally relates to apparatus for allowing selectivefluid communication between an anesthetic agent container and ananesthetic vaporizer. More particularly, the disclosure relates to anadapter mountable on an anesthetic agent container or on an anestheticvaporizer for facilitating fluid transfer therebetween.

During surgical procedures, it often is necessary to anesthetize apatient. One method of delivering anesthetic is in a gaseous form, whichis inhaled by the patient. For the safety of the patient and medicalpersonnel, the anesthetic agent is typically transported in liquid formin a suitable container. Known liquid anesthetics include halothane,isoflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, enflurane, and methoxyflurane. Theliquid anesthetic is ultimately dispensed into an anesthetic vaporizer,which mixes the liquid anesthetic agent with a carrier gas, such asoxygen or nitrous oxide, that is inhalable by a patient.

Liquid anesthetics are relatively volatile and can evaporate at roomtemperature. Before it can be used, the anesthetic agent must betransferred from a first closed environment, e.g., a container orbottle, to a second closed environment, e.g., a vaporizer. In order totransfer the anesthetic, it is well-known to provide a vaporizer fluidport with a valving system that is selectively openable to allow aliquid anesthetic agent to be poured into an internal sump of thevaporizer. Such valving systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,381,836 and 5,617,906 to Braatz et al., which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference. The valving systems described in Braatz et al. aresuitable for use with, for example, commercial desflurane vaporizers.Examples of commercial vaporizers include, but are not limited to theTec 6 Plus™ of Datex-Ohmeda, Inc. and the D-Vapor™ or Devapor® of DragerMedical AG & Co. KG.

The above patents describe an arrangement in which the anesthetic agentcontainer is provided with an integral or separate adapter with avalving system configured to mate with the vaporizer valving system andallow for selective dispensing of the liquid anesthetic containedtherein. To transfer anesthetic agent from the container to thevaporizer, the adapter is inserted into the vaporizer fluid port. As aresult of contact between spring-biased portions of the adapter andvaporizer valving systems, fluid communication between the container andvaporizer is opened and fluid exchange can commence.

Some commercial vaporizers include a stop cock or similar means forpreventing fluid transfer even after the adapter is engaged by thevaporizer and both valves are opened. In such vaporizers, the stop cockis typically opened by rotating the engaged adapter from a down positionto an up position, as described by Braatz et al. In the up position, thestop cock is open and liquid anesthetic agent is allowed to flow fromthe container into the vaporizer. Thereafter, the adapter is rotated tothe down position, if necessary, and removed from the vaporizer fluidport, which automatically closes both valves.

The filling systems of Braatz et al. disclose a sealing surface that isprovided toward a free end of the outlet of an adapter associated withan anesthetic agent container. The sealing surface forms a seal with avaporizer inlet in order to prevent leakage while the adapter is engagedby the vaporizer and one or both of the valves are open. A typicaladapter according to Braatz et al. has a tubular spout with a free endthat is encircled by an elastomeric o-ring seated in a groove or channelof the spout. The spout is inserted into the fluid port of the vaporizerand the o-ring deforms to form a fluid seal between the outer surface ofthe spout and an inner surface of the fluid port.

Another characteristic of the filling systems of Braatz et al. is thatthey use a generally annular projection on the adapter spout as a meansfor preventing accidental disengagement of an engaged adapter from thevaporizer. Vaporizers requiring rotation of an engaged adapter to open astop cock typically include a curved slot with a key-hole opening toreceive the adapter in the down position. Rotation of the adapter alongthe slot to the up position causes the slot to grip the projection,thereby preventing disengagement. The projection-slot configurationprevents disengagement of the adapter in any position other than throughthe key-hole opening of the down position.

As set forth in more detail below, the present disclosure sets forth animproved adapter embodying advantageous alternatives to the sealingand/or retention systems of prior art devices.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an adapter is used toconnect an anesthetic agent container to a vaporizer fluid port. Theadapter includes a base connectable to an anesthetic agent container, aspout that extends from the base and defines at least one flow paththerethrough, the spout having a longitudinal axis, and a valve assemblydisposed within the at least one flow path, the valve assembly beingmoveable between a first position wherein the at least one flow path isopen and a second position wherein the at least one flow path is closed.The adapter also includes a radially expandable seal disposed about thespout, the seal having a first end, a second end, and an intermediateregion between the first and second ends that expands radially outwardrelative to the longitudinal axis. The valve assembly has a surface thatcooperates with the radially expandable seal, wherein the cooperationbetween the surface and the radially expandable seal expands theintermediate region radially outward relative to the longitudinal axiswith the valve assembly in the first position.

Additional aspects of the disclosure are defined by the claims of thispatent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a sealing adapter mounted on ananesthetic vaporizer;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an engaged adapter and vaporizeraccording to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an adapter with a sealing membermounted on an anesthetic agent container;

FIG. 4 is a split view of a cross-section of an adapter according to theembodiment of FIG. 3, received in part by a fluid port of an anestheticvaporizer;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an adapter having an alternativeembodiment of the sealing member illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an adapter with a radiallyexpandable member according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a front perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 6, receivedin part by a fluid port of an anesthetic vaporizer;

FIG. 7B is a front perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 7A, with theradially expandable member in a radially expanded condition;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of anadapter having a radially expandable member mounted on an anestheticagent container;

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of an adapter with a spout upper endhaving a substantially continuous outer radius received in part by afluid port of an anesthetic vaporizer;

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of an adapter with a tapered spoutupper end having a substantially continuous outer radius;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an adapter with a retainer mountedon an anesthetic agent container;

FIG. 11A is a front perspective view of a retainer assembly suitable foruse in an adapter;

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the retainer assembly of FIG. 11A,received in part by a fluid port of an anesthetic vaporizer;

FIG. 11C is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of theretainer assembly of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of an adapter valve assemblysuitable for use in an adapter;

FIG. 13A is a schematic view of a cammed retainer suitable for use in anadapter;

FIG. 13B is a schematic view of the cammed retainer of FIG. 13A, rotatedto a different orientation;

FIG. 14A is a front perspective view of an adapter with a non-continuoussealing member mounted on an anesthetic agent container;

FIG. 14B is a front perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 14A receivedin part by a fluid port of an anesthetic vaporizer, with thenon-continuous sealing member in sealing engagement with the fluid port;

FIG. 15A is a front perspective view of another embodiment of an adapterwith a non-continuous sealing member;

FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 15C is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 15A, receivedin part by a fluid port of an anesthetic vaporizer;

FIG. 16A is a front perspective view of yet another embodiment of anadapter with a non-continuous sealing member;

FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 16A, receivedin part by a fluid port of an anesthetic vaporizer;

FIG. 17A is a front perspective view of yet another embodiment of anadapter with a non-continuous sealing member;

FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 17A, receivedin part by a fluid port of an anesthetic vaporizer;

FIG. 18A is a cross-sectional view of an adapter with a spout having adeformable collar portion;

FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 18B receivedin part by a fluid port of an anesthetic vaporizer, with the deformablecollar portion of the spout in an expanded condition;

FIG. 18C is a front perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 18A, withthe deformable collar portion of the spout in an expanded condition;

FIG. 19A is a front perspective view of an adapter having a spout thatis movable with respect to a base of the adapter to allow fluid flowthrough the spout;

FIG. 19B is a front perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 19A, withselected components removed or broken away for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 19C is a detail view of the base and a handle half of the adapterof FIG. 19A;

FIG. 19D is a front perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 19A receivedin part by a fluid port of an anesthetic vaporizer;

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of an adapter having a pivotingretainer in engagement with an anesthetic agent container;

FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of a container spout having aretaining post;

FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of an adapter suitable for receivingand retaining the container spout of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the container spout of FIG. 21 inengagement with the adapter of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24A is a front perspective view of an adapter having a splashguard;

FIG. 24B is a side elevational view of the adapter of FIG. 24A, withselected components removed, received in part by a fluid port of ananesthetic vaporizer;

FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of an adapter having a rotatablevalve disk;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged front perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 25,illustrated without the rotatable valve disk;

FIG. 27A is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 25, takenthrough the line 27A-27A of FIG. 25, with the rotatable valve disk in anopen position;

FIG. 27B is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 25, receivedin part by an anesthetic vaporizer fluid port;

FIG. 28 is a front perspective view of a vaporizer fluid port;

FIG. 29 is a front perspective view of an adapter having a threadedshaft;

FIG. 30 is an exploded view of an adapter having a collet;

FIG. 31 is a split view of a cross-section of an adapter according tothe embodiment of FIG. 30, received in part by a fluid port of ananesthetic vaporizer;

FIG. 32 is an exploded view of a container retention system; and

FIG. 33 is an exploded view of a vaporizer filling system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments generally describedbelow and illustrated in the attached drawings are merely exemplary ofthe present invention, which may be embodied in various forms.Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpretedas limiting, but rather as representative and provide a basis forvariously employing the present invention in any appropriate mannerunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

All aspects of the adapters described herein and, in particular, theillustrated embodiments which follow may be adapted to cooperate withconventional anesthetic vaporizers, anesthetic agent containers, andvalving systems.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an adapter according to an aspect of the presentinvention. The adapter is generally identified as element 10 in FIGS. 1and 2. Adapter 10 will typically include a base 12 and a sidewall 14extending away or upwardly from the base 12 to an upper end 16. Theupper end 16 defines an opening 18 generally encircled by a sealing lip20. The sidewall 14 is preferably substantially comprised of a plasticor elastomeric material. The sidewall 14 may also be substantiallycomprised of a stainless material, such as stainless steel. The sealinglip 20 is preferably substantially comprised of an elastomeric material.

In one embodiment, the adapter 10 is mountable on a vaporizer 22 havinga valved fluid port 24 suitable for receiving at least a portion of avalved anesthetic agent container 26. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,the fluid port 24 is substantially contained within a shroud defined bythe adapter 10 and is accessible only via the adapter opening 18.Preferably, the adapter 10 is mechanically fastened to the vaporizer 22using screws or the like and aligned such that the opening 18 isgenerally coaxial with the fluid port 24. If the fluid port 24 isconfigured to be movable with respect to the vaporizer 22, e.g.,rotatable between a down position and an up position as described byBraatz et al., then the adapter 10 may be preferably mounted formovement with the fluid port 24.

In the embodiment where the adapter 10 is mounted on the vaporizer 22,during attachment of the valved anesthetic agent container 26 to thevaporizer 22, a spout 28 of the container 26 is aligned with the opening18 and inserted into the fluid port 24. A portion of the container 26,such as the spout 28 or, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a ferrule 30 contactsthe sealing lip 20 of the adapter 10 to form a fluid seal therewith.When used herein, the term “fluid seal” is used generally to describeany seal that substantially prevents the escape of a fluid. As such, itmay incorporate a liquid seal and/or a vapor seal.

Preferably, the fluid seal is formed before fluid communication betweenthe container 26 and the vaporizer 22 is established. Hence, it will beseen that the adapter 10 provides a fluid seal without the use of ano-ring of known devices. Of course, the adapter 10 may be used inconjunction with a container having an o-ring in order to create anauxiliary fluid seal between the container and the vaporizer.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another aspect of the present invention, whichmay be practiced alone or in combination with the adapter 10 of FIGS. 1and 2, as will be described herein. An adapter 110 includes a base 112mountable on an anesthetic agent container 114 containing an amount ofanesthetic agent. The base 112 may be mounted on the container 114 byany suitable means, such as by a screw cap or, as illustrated in FIGS. 3and 4, a ferrule 116. A generally tubular spout 118 is preferably formedintegrally with the base 112 and extends away from the same. An adaptervalve assembly 120 is associated with the spout 118 for controllingfluid flow therethrough. The exact configuration of the adapter valveassembly 120 is not critical and may vary according to the type ofanesthetic agent within the container 114, the valving system of thevaporizer to which the container 114 will be connected, and otherfactors. For example, in the case of an adapter 110 intended to transfera volatile anesthetic agent such as desflurane from a container to avaporizer, the adapter valve assembly 120 may preferably take the formof the valving system of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,381,836 and 5,617,906 toBraatz et al., previously incorporated by reference.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a sealing member 122encircles and is secured to the spout 118 by any of a number of knownmethods. For example, the sealing member 122 may be adhesively bonded tothe spout 118 or heat sealed thereto. Of course, a suitable sealingmechanism will depend on the materials to be joined and other factors,but such a selection is well within the capacity of one having ordinaryskill in the art. If the spout 118 is provided with an annularprojection or locking ring, not illustrated, suitable for use with theprior art key-hole retention system described above, then it may beconvenient to attach the sealing member 122 to an upper surface of theprojection.

The sealing member 122 is preferably substantially comprised of adeformable and/or elastomeric material. Examples of suitable materialsinclude, but are not limited to, silicone, neoprene, and rubber(synthetic and/or natural). The sealing member 122 may be configured toaxially foreshorten under an axial load. For example, FIG. 4 shows thatthe illustrated undulating configuration allows the sealing member 122to deform into an axially foreshortened or compressed condition 122′ asthe spout 118 is further advanced into a vaporizer fluid port 124. Asshown in FIG. 4, movement of the adapter spout 118 into the vaporizerfluid port 124, places the sealing member 122 in contact with an upperlip 126 of the fluid port 124 to create a fluid seal. When used hereinto describe the fluid port, the term “upper lip” refers to the distal orouter end of the fluid port, which is spaced away from the associatedvaporizer. Preferably, the fluid seal is formed prior to establishmentof fluid communication between the container 114 and a vaporizer beingestablished. If the sealing member 122 is axially compressible, then itallows the spout 118 to be further inserted into the fluid port 124after the seal has been formed. Hence, the sealing member 122 of FIG. 4initially contacts the upper lip 126 and forms a fluid seal, then isdeformed to the compressed condition 122′ as the spout 118 is furtheradvanced into the fluid port 124, and finally the adapter valve assembly120 contacts a vaporizer valve assembly 128 to allow fluidcommunication.

While the use of the adapter 110 has been described and illustrated withregard to a fluid port 124, it will be appreciated that the adapter 110can also be used with the adapter 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein thesealing member 122 contacts and forms a fluid seal with the sealing lip20 instead of, or in addition to, the upper end 16 of the adapter 10.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the adapter of FIGS. 3 and 4.In general, the adapter 110 a operates according to the abovedescription of adapter 110 of FIGS. 3 and 4. However, as shown in FIG.5, a sealing member 122 a is secured to the base 112 instead of to thespout 118. The embodiment of FIG. 5 may be preferred, because thesealing member 122 a may be secured to the base 112 by the same ferrule116 used to secure the base 112 to the container 114. In the embodimentof FIG. 5, the sealing member 122 a is illustrated as a disk or ringmade of foam or some other deformable material, but it may take otherforms suitable for sealing engagement with the upper lip 126 of thefluid port 124 or a sealing lip 20 of an adapter 10, such as theundulating configuration of FIGS. 3 and 4.

While the embodiments of FIGS. 3-5 have been described as sealingagainst a fluid port upper lip 126, it will be appreciated that certainvaporizers may have an upper lip unsuitable for sealing against thesealing member 122, 122 a or it may be otherwise undesirable to form aseal against the upper lip. In such situations, the sealing member 122,122 a may be adapted to seal against a lower inner shoulder of the fluidport. For example, FIG. 28 illustrates a vaporizer fluid port 1200similar to that of the D-Vapor™ or Devapor® of Drager Medical AG & Co.KG. The fluid port 1200 has an upper lip 1202 defining a top opening1204, an arcuate rim 1206 spaced below the upper lip 1202, and agenerally annular inner shoulder 1208 spaced below the arcuate rim 1206.It will be seen that the rim 1206 extends inwardly to a greater extentthan the upper lip 1202, i.e. it has a smaller diameter, and the innershoulder 1208 extends inwardly to a greater extent than the upper lip1202 and the rim 1206.

The rim 1206 is arcuate and not a complete ring, because it receives alatch 1210 of a latch pin 1212 extending through the wall of the fluidport 1200. The latch pin 1212 is pressed in the direction of theunlabeled arrow to move the latch 1210 in the same direction, whichallows a container spout to be inserted into the fluid port 1200. Thelatch pin 1212 is then released or moved back to its original position,thereby moving the latch 1210 to its original position to engage behinda latching formation on the spout, such as the locking ring 540 of FIGS.15A-15C, and secure the spout within the fluid port 1200. Of course, theillustrated fluid port 1200 may be used in combination with a spoutlacking a latching formation or with an alternative latching mechanism,including ones which will be described herein.

The illustrated inner shoulder 1208 has a substantially horizontalportion 1214, which is parallel to the upper lip 1202, and an inclinedportion 1216 sloping downwardly and inwardly from the horizontal portion1214. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that certainvaporizers may have lower inner shoulders comprised solely of ahorizontal or inclined portion, so this aspect of the present inventionis not limited to the particular inner shoulder 1208 shown in FIG. 28.

According to the foregoing description of the embodiments of FIGS. 3-5,the sealing member 122, 122 a may seal against the upper lip 1202 of thefluid port 1200 of FIG. 28. Alternatively, depending on the placement ofthe sealing member 122, 122 a and/or the size of the adapter 110, 110 awith respect to the fluid port 1200, the sealing member 122, 122 a maycontact and seal against the inner shoulder 1208 when the spout 118 isinserted into the fluid port 1200. The sealing member 122, 122 a facesaway from the top opening 1204 when the adapter 110, 110 a is insertedinto the fluid port 1200, so any portion of the inner shoulder 1208 atleast partially facing the top opening 1204, including the horizontalportion 1214 and the inclined portion 1216, may serve as a sealingsurface that forms a fluid seal with the sealing member 122, 122 a.Preferably, a fluid seal is formed before fluid communication betweenthe container 114 and the vaporizer is established.

FIGS. 6-7B illustrate yet another example of a sealing and/or retainingarrangement. In FIGS. 6-7B, an adapter 210 may include a generallytubular spout 212 extending between a first end 214 and a second end216. The first end 214 has a generally annular end lip 218 configured tobe received by a fluid port 220 of an anesthetic vaporizer. A collar 222is spaced from the first end 214 and axially movable along the spout212. The collar 222 is movable by an actuator, which is illustrated inFIGS. 6-7B as a knob 224 associated with the second end 216 of the spout212. The knob 224 includes an eccentric disk or cam 226 engageable withthe collar 222. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the knob 224 is rotated tocause the cam 226 to move the collar 222 toward the end lip 218.Movement of the collar 222 toward the end lip 218 axially compresses aradially expandable member 228 disposed between the end lip 218 and thecollar 222. The radially expandable member 228 expands radially oroutwardly away from the spout 212 when it is compressed between thecollar 222 and the end lip 218. Preferably, the radially expandablemember 228 is substantially comprised of a deformable and/or elastomericmaterial suitable for the above-described action. The illustratedradially expandable member 228 takes the form of a sheet of pleatedmaterial or a bellows.

In addition to moving the collar 222, rotating the knob 224 also rotatesan associated valve 230 in the adapter 210. Fluid flow through theadapter 210 is achieved by a lumen 232, principally defined by a firstnozzle 234 and a central tube 236. The lumen 232 is also in fluidcommunication with a second nozzle 238 that is non-coaxial with thespout 212, in contrast to the lumen 232, the first nozzle 234, and thecentral tube 236. Alternatively, the valve 230 may be provided with aseparate lumen, not illustrated, that communicates with the secondnozzle 238. In the orientation of FIGS. 6 and 7A, the valve 230 ismisaligned with the lumen 232 and flow is prevented. Rotating the knob224 to the orientation of FIG. 7B rotates the valve 230 into alignmentwith the lumen 232, thereby allowing fluid flow through the adapter 210.Thus, it will be seen that the same action that expands the radiallyexpandable member 228 also opens fluid flow through the adapter lumen232.

The adapter 210 is used to connect an anesthetic agent container, notillustrated, to the fluid port 220 of an anesthetic vaporizer for fluidtransfer. The container is connected to the first nozzle 234 and thesecond nozzle 238 by tubing or the like. The separate nozzles allow forthe simultaneous flow of one fluid from the container into thevaporizer, typically a liquid anesthetic, and another fluid from thevaporizer to the container, typically a pressurized vapor. Fluidcommunication between the container and the nozzles 234 and 238 may beregulated by a suitable valve system.

A vaporizer, not illustrated, is connected to the adapter 210 byinserting at least a portion of the adapter 210 into the vaporizer fluidport 220. When the end lip 218 and at least a portion of the radiallyexpandable member 228 are inserted into the fluid port 220 of ananesthetic vaporizer, as shown in FIG. 7A, the central tube 230 of theadapter 210 contacts a vaporizer adapter valve 240 in the fluid port 220and moves it into an open position. Preferably, the adapter 210 is usedwith a vaporizer having a stop cock, as described above, to regulatefluid flow after the vaporizer valve has opened. Regardless of thepresence or absence of a stop cock, fluid flow between the container andvaporizer in the orientation of FIG. 7A is prevented by misalignment ofthe valve 230 and the lumen 232. It is preferred that there is no fluidflow through the spout 212 in FIG. 7A, because there is no seal betweenthe adapter 210 and the fluid port 220.

When fluid flow between the container and vaporizer is desired, the knob224 is rotated into the position of FIG. 7B to move the collar 222toward the spout end lip 218, thereby expanding the radially expandablemember 228 and pressing it against the fluid port 220 to form a sealingarrangement therewith. If preferred, the radially expandable member 228may be adapted to form a sufficiently tight fit with the fluid port 220that a retention arrangement, in addition to the previously describedsealing arrangement, is established. Rotation of the knob 224 alsorotates the valve 230 into alignment with the lumen 232, thereby openingfluid flow through the spout 212. Of course, if the vaporizer includes astop cock, then it is opened to allow fluid transfer between thecontainer and the vaporizer. Thus, it will be seen that the adapter mayallow for a sealed connection between an anesthetic agent container anda vaporizer, without the use of an o-ring of prior art devices.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the adapter 210 of FIGS. 6-7B.The adapter 210 a includes components similar to the adapter 210 ofFIGS. 6-7B, except that the nozzles are replaced by a base 242associated with the second end 216, which is directly mountable on acontainer 244 housing an amount of an anesthetic agent. The base 242 maybe secured to the container 244 by a ferrule 246 or other suitablemeans, such as a threaded connection. In use, at least a portion of thespout 212 is inserted into a vaporizer fluid port, then the actuatorknob 224 is rotated to expand the radially expandable member 228 and toalign the valve 230 with the lumen 232, which creates a fluid seal withthe fluid port and allows fluid flow through the adapter 210 a,respectively. As with the embodiments of FIGS. 6-7B, the valve 230 maybe provided with a separate lumen, not illustrated, that allowscommunication between the container 244 and the spout 212 when the valve230 is properly aligned. It may be preferred to provide at least twoseparate fluid flowpaths when transferring an anesthetic agent such asdesflurane, because pressurized vapor typically flows from the vaporizerto the container while the liquid anesthetic agent is flowing into thevaporizer.

FIG. 9A illustrates another example of an adapter embodying anotheraspect of the present invention. The adapter 310 includes a base 312mountable on a container 314 housing an amount of anesthetic agent. Thebase may be mounted to the container 314 by any suitable means, such asthe ferrule 316 illustrated in FIG. 9A. Extending away from the base 312is a generally tubular spout 318 having an upper end 319 with an outersurface 320 with a substantially continuous outer radius. When usedherein in connection with this aspect of the present invention, the term“upper end” refers to the portion of the spout 318 that is inserted intoa vaporizer fluid port 324 during fluid transfer. When used herein, theterm “substantially continuous outer radius” refers to an upper end withan outer surface that is substantially smooth and free ofdiscontinuities. An o-ring associated with the upper end and a channelfor receiving an o-ring are two examples of discontinuities. On theother hand, a smoothly tapered upper end, illustrated in FIG. 9B, has asubstantially continuous outer radius and may be preferred over theuniform radius of FIG. 9A in some situations. It will be appreciatedthat the spout may be provided with a projection according to theabove-described prior art keyhole retention system, because such aprojection is spaced from the upper end 319.

Fluid flow through the spout 318 is controlled by an adapter valveassembly 322 according to known structure and operation. The upper end319 of the spout 318 is configured to be received by a fluid port 324 ofan anesthetic vaporizer 326. The upper end 319 of the spout 318 isinserted into the fluid port 324 until the adapter valve assembly 322and a vaporizer valve assembly 328 are opened to allow fluid transfer.Of course, if the vaporizer includes a stop cock, not illustrated, thenit must also be opened to allow fluid transfer between the vaporizer 326and the container 314.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9A, fluid is transferred from thecontainer 314 to the vaporizer 326 in the absence of a contact sealbetween the outer surface 320 of the upper end of the spout 318 and aninner surface 330 of the fluid port 324. The outer surface 320 of theupper end 319 of the spout 318 and the inner surface 330 of the fluidport 324 are dimensioned such that a narrow gap exists therebetween. Thegap is sufficiently narrow such that leakage of the fluid beingtransferred to the vaporizer 326 is insubstantial or substantiallyentirely absent, while still allowing for easy and/or substantiallyuninhibited removal of the container from the vaporizer. Such a gap isdefined by a difference between the inner radius r_(p) of the fluid port324 and the outer radius r_(s) of the spout upper end 319. In oneembodiment, the fluid to be transferred from the container 314 to thevaporizer 326 is liquid desflurane, in which case a gap no greater than0.01 inch is typically adequately sized to prevent leakage of the liquidanesthetic. More preferably, the gap is in the range of approximately0.001 inch and approximately 0.005 inch. The “shroud” adapter of FIGS. 1and 2 may be used in combination with the substantially continuous outerradius adapter of FIG. 9A to create an auxiliary sealing arrangement, ifdesired.

As previously described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 9A, aspout upper end 319 a with a smoothly tapered outer radius r_(s) may beprovided. Such a spout upper end 319 a is illustrated in FIG. 9B. Ifsuch a tapered spout upper end 319 a is defined, then the gap betweenthe outer surface 320 and the fluid port 324 is defined as the minimumgap, which is typically adjacent to an upper lip 332 of the fluid port324. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art thatthe effectiveness of the fluid seal is dependent on the minimum gapbetween the spout upper end and the fluid port, so the larger gapsurrounding the narrower regions of the spout upper end 319 a iscontemplated by this aspect of the present invention.

Of course, the relevant outer radius r_(s) of the spout upper endsillustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B may be substantially identical to theinner radius r_(p) of the fluid port 324, such that the gap iseliminated and a press fit is defined, while still allowing for easyremoval of the container from the vaporizer. It will be appreciated thatsuch a configuration may result in a press fit between substantially theentire outer surface 320 of the upper end 319 and the fluid port 324 forthe substantially uniform outer radius of FIG. 9A. Similarly, if theillustrated outer radius r_(s) of FIG. 9B is substantially identical tothe fluid port inner radius r_(p), then a press fit may be providedbetween the spout upper end 319 a and the fluid port 324 at a region 334adjacent to the upper lip 332 of the fluid port 324. This region 334 isreferred to herein as an “upper portion” of the fluid port 324 andgenerally corresponds to the outermost half of the fluid port 324,measured from the upper lip 332 to a vaporizer valve seat 336 thatcloses the bottom of the fluid port 324. The innermost half 338 of thefluid port 324 is referred to herein as the “lower portion.” Of course,the spout upper end will typically form a press fit with the lowerportion 338 when the outer radius r_(s) of the spout 318 issubstantially uniform.

The same function may be achieved by provided a spout upper end with anouter radius r_(s) slightly greater than the inner radius r_(p) of thefluid port. Of course, in such a configuration, one of the spout upperend and the fluid port is preferably comprised of a material allowingfor sufficient “give” or deformation to allow the spout upper end to beinserted into the fluid port. Preferably, the dimensions and/ormaterials of the adapter spout and the fluid port are selected in orderto provide a suitable press fit without undue difficulty in inserting orremoving the adapter spout.

FIG. 10 shows an adapter 410 that includes a base 412 mountable on ananesthetic agent container 414 housing an amount of an anesthetic agent.A generally tubular spout 416 extends away from the base 412 and has anassociated adapter valve assembly 418 that controls fluid flow throughthe spout 416. Retainers 420 and 422 are located within the spout 416,associated with the spout 416 and with the adapter valve assembly 418,respectively. As will be seen from the following description, theretainers 420 and 422 perform substantially the same function, so theadapter 410 may be provided with either one of the retainers 420 and 422or with both, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

The retainer 420 associated with the spout 416 is illustrated withinwardly projecting gripping elements, which are illustrated in FIG. 10as molded teeth 424. The teeth 424 are adapted for locking engagementwith a central pin 426 of a vaporizer valve assembly 428 in a vaporizerfluid port 430, as shown in FIG. 11B. In a preferred embodiment of theadapter 410, the adapter valve assembly 418 contacts the central pin 426to define first and second fluid flowpaths 432 and 434. Typically, apressurized vapor will flow to the container 414 from the fluid port 430through the second fluid flowpath 434, so the retainer 420 mustlockingly engage the central pin 426 without preventing such flow.Accordingly, the retainer 420 may be defined by discrete elements or atleast include open sections for facilitating flow. FIGS. 11A and 11B,which will be described in greater detail herein, show a retainerassembly 420 having teeth 424 suitable for locking engagement with thecentral pin 426 without preventing fluid flow. Of course, if the fluidtransfer is accomplished entirely within the first fluid flowpath 432,then the retainer 420 may form a fluid seal with the central pin 426without degrading the performance of the adapter 410.

The retainer 422 associated with the adapter valve assembly 418 is alsoadapted for locking engagement with the central pin 426 to preventdisengagement. As described above, the adapter valve assembly 418contacts the central pin 426 to define first and second fluid flowpaths432 and 434. The flowpaths 432 and 434 are separated by contact betweenthe adapter valve assembly 418 and the central pin 426, so it may bepreferred for the retainer 422 to form a seal with the central pin 426when it is engaged thereto. As such, the retainer 422 preferably takesthe form of a gasket or elastomeric o-ring adapted for locking- andsealing-engagement with an outer surface of the central pin 426. In apreferred embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 12, the adapter valve assembly418 includes tapered or angled sections 436 adjacent to the retainer 422for guiding the central pin 426 to the retainer 422. The central pin 426is slightly larger than the angled sections 436 and retainer 422, sopersistent advancement of the adapter valve assembly 418 against thecentral pin 426 will effectively wedge the central pin 426 into theretainer 422, thereby creating a sealing and retaining relationshiptherebetween. The retainer 422 is disengaged from the central pin 426 bypersistent removal of the adapter 410 from the fluid port 430.

In use, the spout 416 is inserted into the fluid port 428 until at leasta portion of the central pin 426 is received by the retainer 420 and/or422, as shown in FIG. 11B. When the central pin 426 has been received bythe retainer 420 and/or 422, the retainer 420 and/or 422 is moved intolocking engagement with the central pin 426. In such a lockingcondition, the adapter 410 may not be removed from the fluid port 428until the retainer 420 and/or 422 is disengaged from the central pin426. Hence, it will be seen that an adapter of the type described aboveserves as an advantageous alternative to the projection-slot retentionarrangement of prior art devices.

Locking the retainer 420 and/or 422 onto the central pin 426 may beachieved in any one of a number of ways, depending on the structure. Asdescribed above, the retainer 422 may be actuated by axial movement ofthe adapter 410. As another example, illustrated schematically in FIGS.13A and 13B, the retainer 422′ may be non-circular or cammed, such thatthe central pin 426 moves easily through a relatively wide region,generally designated at W, and is locked and retained by a narrowerregion, generally designated at N. In use, the adapter 410 is insertedinto the fluid port 430 with the central pin 426 passing through therelatively wide region W of the retainer 422′, as shown in FIG. 13A.Thereafter, the adapter 410 is rotated to the orientation of FIG. 13B,which rotates the cammed retainer 422′ and moves the narrower region Ninto contact with the central pin 426. The central pin 426 becomeswedged in the narrower region N to create a retention relationshipduring fluid transfer. In order to remove the adapter 410 from the fluidport 430, it must first be rotated to the orientation of FIG. 13A, sothat the central pin 426 is released and may again pass through therelatively wide region W of the cammed retainer 422′.

With regard to actuation of a retainer 420 associated with the spout416, if the retainer is a molded element, such as the teeth 424 of FIG.10, then locking engagement can be initiated by radially moving theretainer into contact with the central pin 426. Referring now moreparticularly to FIGS. 11A and 11B, a retainer assembly 420 isillustrated which is comprised of two elements. The first element is arotatable ring 438 and the second is an inner portion 440. The innerportion 440 is preferably associated with an upper end of the spout 416,while the rotatable ring 438 is rotatable with respect to the innerportion 440. Preferably, the rotatable ring 438 is associated with theinner portion 440 by mating threads 442, such that rotation of the ring438 will advance it axially with respect to the inner portion 440. Mostpreferably, an acme screw relationship allows for enhanced axialmovement with limited rotation. As best illustrated in FIG. 11B, theinner portion 440 is comprised of a rim 444 and an inwardly taperedskirt 446. The teeth 424 of the rotatable ring 438 are located inwardlyof the skirt 446 and arranged such that downward movement of the teeth424, with respect to the orientation of FIG. 11B, will cause them tocontact the skirt 446 and be moved inward.

In use, the spout 416 is inserted into a vaporizer fluid port 430 untilat least a portion of the skirt 446 surrounds the central pin 426. Thering 438 remains outside of the fluid port 430, so it may be rotated toaxially advance the teeth 424. The teeth 424 contact the tapered skirt446 and are moved inwardly until they engage and lock onto the centralpin 426. In order to provide an improved locking relationship, the teeth424 may be substantially comprised of an elastomeric material or have anelastomeric coating for contacting the central pin 426. Also, a latchingmechanism may be provided to prevent axial movement of the teeth 424 anddisengagement of the teeth 424 from the central pin 426. After fluidtransfer, the teeth 424 may be removed from the central pin 426 byrotating the ring 438 in the opposite direction to raise and separatethe teeth 424. Of course, if a latching mechanism is provided, then itmust be disengaged before the teeth 424 can be removed from the centralpin 426.

According to another manner of lockingly engaging a central pin, the pin1218 may be generally tubular with internal threads 1220 (FIG. 28). InFIG. 29, an adapter 1222 includes a base 1224 mountable on an anestheticagent container 1226 housing an amount of an anesthetic agent, agenerally tubular spout 1228 extending away from the base 1224, and anadapter valve assembly for controlling fluid flow through the spout1228, which adapter valve assembly may be similar to known designs or tothe adapter valve assemblies described and illustrated herein. The spout1228 may include an o-ring 1230 to establish a fluid seal between theadapter 1222 and the fluid port 1200, but other sealing means, includingthose described herein, may also be used. The spout 1228 or adaptervalve assembly includes a centrally positioned, externally threadedshaft 1232 adapted to be received by the tubular pin 1218 when at leasta portion of the spout 1228 is inserted into the fluid port 1200.Typically, a shaft 1232 formed as part of the spout 1228 will be astationary member with respect to the spout 1228, whereas a shaft 1232formed as part of the adapter valve assembly (which is movable withrespect to the spout 1228) will be movable with respect to the spout1228.

In use, the spout 1228 is moved into the fluid port 1200, with thecentral pin 1218 and threaded shaft 1232 aligned with each other. Thespout 1228 is further pressed into the fluid port 1200 while beingrotated to lockingly thread the shaft 1232 into the central pin 1218,which prevents the spout 1228 from being inadvertently removed.Preferably, the adapter valve assembly and vaporizer valve assembly (notillustrated) are configured such that the shaft 1232 must lock into thecentral pin 1218 prior to fluid flow into the vaporizer.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the retainerassembly 420 of FIGS. 11A-11B may be modified to cause the teeth 424 toengage and retain the fluid port 430 instead of, or in addition to, thecentral pin 426. In particular, the skirt 446 may be provided with anexternal taper 448, as shown in FIG. 1C, facing the fluid port 430. Theteeth 424 would be axially movable along the tapered outer surface ofthe skirt 446 to separate and engage the fluid port 430. This embodimentmay be preferred in some instances, because the teeth 424 maysimultaneous provide a retaining function and a sealing function againstthe fluid port 430, whereas a sealing engagement must typically beavoided if the teeth 424 engage the central pin 426 for theaforementioned reason.

FIGS. 30 and 31 illustrate a variation of the adapter of FIG. 11C. Theadapter 1300 of FIGS. 30 and 31 includes a base 1302 mountable on ananesthetic agent container 1304 housing an amount of anesthetic agent, agenerally tubular spout 1306 extending away from the base 1302, and anadapter valve assembly for controlling fluid flow through the spout1306, which adapter valve assembly may be similar to known designs or tothe adapter valve assemblies described and illustrated herein. The spout1306 is tapered, generally according to the embodiment of FIG. 9B, or atleast has a tapered portion 1308. The tapered portion 1308 receives acollet 1310 having a downwardly extending flap member that fits looselyover the tapered portion 1308. The flap member may be comprised of aplurality of separate flaps 1312, as shown in FIG. 30, or as acontinuous tubular member, which differs from the embodiment of FIG. 30by an absence of gaps or windows between adjacent flaps 1312. As bestshown in the left half of FIG. 31, the tapered portion 1308 includes amaximum diameter greater than an inner diameter of the flap member. Thecollet 1310 may further include a downwardly extending inner skirt 1314received within the spout 1306 (FIG. 31). An o-ring 1316 or othersealing means may be provided on the collet 1310 or adapter 1300 to forma fluid seal with a vaporizer fluid port 1318 (FIG. 31).

Movement of the adapter spout 1306 into the vaporizer fluid port 1318,places the collet 1310 in contact with a central pin 1320 of the fluidport 1318 to prevent further downward movement of the collet 1310. Inone embodiment, the inner skirt 1314 may include internal threads andthe central pin 1320 may include corresponding external threads forthreadingly associating the collet 1310 and the central pin 1320 uponrotation of the spout 1306 in the fluid port 1318. As shown in the lefthalf of FIG. 31, the flaps 1312 of the flap member are spaced radiallyinwardly from the wall of the fluid port 1318 in this position.

While the collet 1310 is prevented from further movement into the fluidport 1318, the remainder of the adapter 1300 is free to move downwardwith respect to the collet 1310. The tapered portion 1308 of the spout1306 presses against the flaps 1312 of the flap member and forces themradially outward, into the bent condition 1312′ shown in the right halfof FIG. 31. To allow this bending action, the flap member and flaps 1312may be comprised of a rigid but pliable material, such as, but notlimited to, a plastic material, a linear low density polyethylenematerial, a low density polyethylene material, a polypropylene material,a nylon material, a ferrous material, and a resilient spring steelmaterial. Other materials may be used without departing from the scopeof the present invention. If the flap member is provided as a continuoustubular member, it may be preferred for the flap member to be formed ofa resilient plastic material adapted to deform elastically, rather thanplastically, upon full insertion of the spout into the fluid port.

In the bent condition 1312′, the flaps 1312 are wedged between the spouttapered portion 1308 and the wall of the fluid port 1318, which preventsinadvertent removal of the adapter 1300 from the fluid port 1318. Whenthe vaporizer has been sufficiently filled with anesthetic agent, theadapter 1300 is removed from the fluid port 1318 by pulling thecontainer 1304 upwardly to disengage the spout tapered portion 1308 fromthe bent flaps 1312′. The container 1304 is then fully pulled from thefluid port 1318 to remove the adapter 1300 from the fluid port 1318. Thecollet 1310 is loosely fit upon the spout 1306, so the collet 1310 maybe provided with catch means (not illustrated) to latch onto the spout1306 as the adapter 1300 is removed from the fluid port 1318 to preventthe collet 1310 from completely separating from the spout 1306.

On the other hand, if the retainer is a deformable and/or elastomericmaterial, then locking engagement can be initiated by radially expandingthe retainer until it contacts the central pin 426 or the fluid port430. Suitable means for causing such deformation include rotation,levering action, axial movement, or the like. It will be appreciatedthat several embodiments including this aspect provide a retainingarrangement, but not a sealing arrangement between the spout 416 and thefluid port 430, so either conventional sealing means or the inventivesealing arrangements described herein may be used in combination withthis aspect of the present invention.

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate an adapter 510 that includes a base 512mountable on an anesthetic agent container 514 housing an amount of ananesthetic agent. A generally tubular spout 516 extends away from thebase 512 and has an associated adapter valve assembly 518 that controlsfluid flow through the spout 516. An outer surface 520 of the spout 516includes a non-continuous sealing member 522 or a plurality of separatedmembers. The non-continuous sealing member 522 generally encircles thespout 516, but may be defined by angularly separated, discrete elements524. Preferably, the discrete elements 524 are substantially comprisedof a deformable and/or elastomeric material.

The spout 516 is adapted to be received by a vaporizer fluid port 526.Fluid flow between the adapter 510 and the fluid port 526 isaccomplished in accordance with the above descriptions. In order toprovide a fluid seal between the spout 516 and fluid port 526, thenon-continuous sealing member 522 is radially expanded or radially movedinto contact with the fluid port 526, as illustrated in FIG. 14B.Preferably, each discrete element 524 expands laterally as well in orderto close or eliminate the gap between itself and the adjacent discreteelements 524. As the size of the gap between the discrete elements 524decreases, a more complete fluid seal is formed, so an improved seal maybe achieved by selecting a material with enhanced lateral expansionproperties or by placing the discrete elements 524 closer together.

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate one configuration for radially expandingthe non-continuous sealing member(s) 522. In the illustrated embodiment,the non-continuous sealing member 522 is received in a channel 528defined by a distal portion 530 and a proximal portion 532 of the spout516. The distal and proximal portions 530 and 532 may be fixed oraxially movable with respect to each other. If one of the distal andproximal portions 530 and 532 is axially movable with respect to theother, then such movement will axially compress the non-continuoussealing member 522 and cause it to radially expand, as shown in FIG.14B. Relative movement of the distal and proximal portions 530 and 532can be achieved by a number of possible mechanisms, including theactuation knob of FIGS. 6-8 and the deformation mechanisms describedpreviously with respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 10-13B. As the samemechanism may be used with both the retainer of FIGS. 10-13B and thesealing member of FIGS. 14A and 14B, it is contemplated that an adapterincorporating both features, which are simultaneously actuated by thesame mechanism, may be preferred for some uses. Of course, rather thandeforming and radially expanding to form a fluid seal, thenon-continuous sealing member 522 may instead create a seal with thefluid port 526 by outward radial movement. In that case, the movementmechanisms described previously with respect to the embodiments of FIGS.10-13B or the like may be used.

Other possible embodiments of this aspect are illustrated in FIGS.15A-17B. For example, FIGS. 15A-15C illustrate an adapter 510 a having aspout 516 encircled by an elastomeric overmold 534. The overmold 534includes a plurality of separate, radially extending petals 536 that arearranged in a ring at a portion of the spout 516 adapted to be receivedby the fluid port 526 of an anesthetic vaporizer 538 during fluidtransfer. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastomeric overmold 534also includes a locking ring 540 generally adjacent to the base 512 ofthe adapter 510 a. FIG. 15B shows that the spout 516 preferably includesa recess 542 adapted to receive the overmold 534 and to prevent it frommoving axially along the spout 516.

The petals 536 are wider than a vaporizer fluid port 526, such that theycontact a wall 544 of the fluid port 526 and, as illustrated in FIG.15C, are folded inwardly toward the spout 516. In the position of FIG.15C, the petals 534 extend into and substantially occupy the gap betweenthe spout 516 and the wall 544 of the fluid port 526. Thus, it will beappreciated that the petals 536 create a fluid seal during fluidtransfer between the adapter 510 a and the vaporizer 538. In theillustrated embodiment, the locking ring 540 contacts an upper lip 546of the fluid port 526 to form an auxiliary fluid seal. It will beunderstood that the locking ring 540 is an optional aspect of thisembodiment of the present invention, as the petals 436 are typicallysufficient to create a satisfactory fluid seal. The locking ring 546 mayalso provide a retaining function instead of, or in addition to, thedescribed sealing function. In particular, the locking ring 546 mayserve as an annular projection to be retained by a key-hole slot of anassociated anesthetic vaporizer 538, as described previously withrespect to prior art devices.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show another embodiment of an adapter 510 b having anon-continuous sealing member. The illustrated adapter 510 b has aplurality of non-continuous ribs 548 generally adjacent to an outer endof the spout 516. In the illustrated embodiment, the non-continuous ribs548 are integrally molded with the spout 516. In one embodiment, theindividual rib segments 548 may be staggered or offset relative to oneanother to define one or more tortuous pathways. Of course, it will beappreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the ribs 548 neednot be integrally molded with the spout 516 and may instead besubstantially comprised of an elastomeric material that is affixed tothe spout 516 by suitable means.

In use, the spout 516 is inserted into the fluid port 526 of ananesthetic vaporizer. The non-continuous ribs 548 preferably contact awall 544 of the fluid port 526 in order to substantially occupy the gapbetween the spout 516 and the fluid port 526. Depending on the size andradial extension of the ribs 548, they may provide a friction-typeretention relationship with the fluid port 526. The tortuous pathwaysdefined by the ribs 548 limit and/or substantially prevent the escape offluid. By doing so, the ribs 548 create a fluid seal during the transferof anesthetic agent from an anesthetic agent container 514 to thevaporizer.

FIGS. 17A and 17B show yet another embodiment of an adapter 510 c havinga non-continuous sealing member. In particular, the adapter 510 c has aspout 516 with a discontinuous ring 550 preferably formed of anelastomeric material. As shown in FIG. 17B, the spout 516 preferablyincludes a recess 552 for receiving the ring 550 and preventing it frommoving axially along the spout 516. The spout 516 may also include alocking ring 540, as described above with reference to the embodiment ofFIGS. 15A-15C, to provide an auxiliary fluid seal with an upper lip 546of the fluid port 526 and/or a retention function.

The illustrated ring 550 includes a plurality of radially extending lugs554 arranged in first and second bands 556 and 558. Possible variationsto the illustrated embodiment include the use of a single band or morethan two bands and bands that are separate structures associated withthe spout 516.

In use, the spout 516 is inserted into the fluid port 526 of ananesthetic vaporizer. The lugs 554 operate similarly to the ribs 548 ofFIGS. 16A and 16B, because the lugs 554 of adjacent bands are offset todefine tortuous pathways that restrict and/or substantially eliminatethe escape of fluid. Preferably, the lugs 554 are slightly wider thanthe fluid port 526, such that the lugs 554 provide a tight fit against awall 544 of the fluid port 526. As shown in FIG. 17B, the lugs 554occupy the gap between the spout 516 and the fluid port 526, resultingin an effective fluid seal during transfer of anesthetic agent to thevaporizer, with a tortuous fluid pathway that limits and/orsubstantially prevents the escape of fluid. If the spout 516 is providedwith a locking ring 540, then the locking ring 540 provides an auxiliaryfluid seal and/or a retention function.

Other sealing members, besides those illustrated, are possible andwithin the scope of the present invention. For example, the spout may beprovided with an external screw thread (preferably defining at leastone, and more preferably more than one, revolution around the spout)that, with the spout received in the fluid port, may likewise result ina tortuous fluid pathway for limiting fluid escape.

FIGS. 18A-18C illustrate an adapter 610 including another embodiment ofa sealing system. The adapter 610 includes a base 612 mountable on ananesthetic agent container 614 housing an amount of an anesthetic agent.A generally tubular spout 616 extends away from the base 612 and has anassociated adapter valve assembly 618 that controls fluid flow throughthe spout 616. The spout 616 is defined in part by a deformable collar620 that communicates with the interior of the spout 616. The deformablecollar 620 is comparable in structure to an elastomeric o-ring. Thespout 616 is adapted to be received by a fluid port 622 of an anestheticvaporizer and, as illustrated in FIG. 18A, the outer surface of thecollar 620 is configured to also be received by the fluid port 622.Preferably, the outer surface of the collar 620 is substantially plumbwith the outer surface of the spout 616 in the unexpanded condition ofFIG. 18A.

The adapter valve assembly 618 includes an enlarged head portion 624that is wider than a body portion 626. In the unexpanded condition ofFIG. 18A, the enlarged head portion 624 is disposed between thedeformable collar 620 and an open end 628 of the spout 616. Althoughillustrated at the outermost end of the adapter valve assembly 618, itwill be appreciated that the enlarged head portion 624 may be at anintermediate position along the adapter valve assembly 618, providedthat it is disposed distally of the deformable collar 620 in theunexpanded condition of FIG. 18A. The enlarged head portion 624 isnarrower than the spout 616, such that it may move axially along theinterior of the spout 616, but it is wider than an inner surface of thedeformable collar 620.

In use, the spout 616 is inserted into the fluid port 622 until theenlarged head portion 624 of the adapter valve assembly 618 contacts acentral pin 630 of the anesthetic vaporizer. Contact with the centralpin 630 causes the adapter valve assembly 618 to retract into theadapter 610 and open flow through the spout 616, according toconventional design. However, the retraction of the adapter valveassembly 618 brings the enlarged head portion 624 into engagement withthe deformable collar 620. The enlarged head portion 624 is more rigidthan the deformable collar 620, so it will force the deformable collar620 radially outwardly until the deformable collar 620 sealingly engagesthe fluid port 622. This expanded condition may be seen in FIGS. 18B and18C. In a preferred embodiment, the deformable collar 620 is configuredto expand and sealingly engage an upper portion of the fluid port 622.When used in reference to this aspect of the present invention, the term“upper portion” conforms to the above definition in the description ofFIGS. 9A and 9B.

In the condition of FIG. 18B, fluid may flow between the adapter valveassembly 618 and the central pin 630. If it is desirable to includeseparate fluid flowpaths for a liquid anesthetic agent moving into thevaporizer and a pressurized vapor exiting the vaporizer, then theenlarged head portion 624 and/or the deformable collar 620 may beprovided with at least one channel, not illustrated, to define a secondfluid flowpath through the spout 616.

In order to disengage the deformable collar 620 from the fluid port 622,the adapter 610 is moved away from the fluid port 622. This initialretraction movement of the adapter 610 from the fluid port 622 causesthe central pin 630 to separate from the enlarged head portion 624.According to conventional design, the adapter valve assembly 618 isspring-biased to the condition of FIG. 18A, so it will return to thatcondition as the adapter 610 moves away from the fluid port 622.Movement of the adapter valve assembly 618 to the condition of FIG. 18Adisengages the enlarged head portion 624 from the deformable collar 620which, in turn, returns to the unexpanded condition of FIG. 18A, andallows the adapter 610 to be fully removed from the fluid port 622.

FIGS. 19A-19D illustrate an adapter 710 having yet another sealingsystem. The adapter 710 includes a base 712 mountable on an anestheticagent container 714 housing an amount of an anesthetic agent. Agenerally tubular spout 716 extends away from the base 712 and isseparate therefrom, such that it may move axially or rotate with respectto the base 712. The illustrated spout 716 is associated with the base712 by at least one external thread 718, as shown in FIG. 19B, thatmoves within a mating internal thread 720 of the base 712, which isshown in FIG. 19C. This association can be understood with reference toa typical screw thread, in that the spout 716 is rotated with respect tothe base 712 in order to move it axially with respect to the same. Aswill be clear from the following description, this particularconfiguration is merely exemplary and other means of axially moving thespout 716 with respect to the base 712 may be practiced withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

The illustrated spout 716 also includes a handle 722 comprised ofsubstantially identical first and second halves 724 a and 724 b. Thefirst and second halves 724 a and 724 b are joinable together by matingpegs 726 and windows 728 or other suitable means. A slot 730 of thehandle 722 receives a post 732 of the spout 716, which allows the handle722 to move axially along the spout 716, but prevents rotation of thehandle 722 with respect to the spout 716. By this system, it will beappreciated that the spout 716 may be rotated by the handle 722.

Each half 724 a and 724 b of the handle 722 also includes a channel 734that receives an upper rim 736 of the base 712. This allows the handle722 to rotate about the base 712 without axial movement. Thus, tosummarize the above-described relationships, the handle 722 is rotatedabout the base 712, which rotates the spout 716 and causes it to moveaxially with respect to the base 712. The bottom end 738 of the spout716 includes openings 740 that communicate with a central tube 742within the interior of the spout 716. The spout 716 is moved axiallywith respect to the base 712 in order to cover and uncover theseopenings 740, as will be described in greater detail herein.

The illustrated spout 716 includes a radially expandable member 744 thatis comparable in structure and function to the radially expandablemember 228 of FIGS. 6-7B. However, instead of using a cammed knob toactuate the radially expandable member, the spout 716 retracts withrespect to the handle 722, which compresses the radially expandablemember 744 and causes it to outwardly deform to sealingly engage a fluidport 746 in which the spout 716 is received.

In use, the spout 716 is inserted into a fluid port 746 of an anestheticvaporizer with the openings 740 covered by the base 712. The spoutbottom end 738 may be provided with an o-ring 748 to form a fluid sealwith the base 712 in order to prevent fluid flow through spout 716. Whenthe spout 716 is sufficiently received by the fluid port 746, typicallywhen the central tube 742 has engaged a central pin 750 of the vaporizerand moved it into an open position, the handle 722 is rotated. Asdescribed above, rotation of the handle 722 causes the spout 716 toretract into the base 712, thereby expanding the radially expandablemember 744 to sealingly engage the fluid port 746 and exposing theopenings 740 to allow flow through the spout 716. This condition isillustrated in FIG. 19D. As an alternative to rotating the handle 722,if an anesthetic container 714 is rigidly affixed to the base 712, thenthe handle 722 may be held stationary while the container 714 is rotatedin order to retract the spout 716.

As best shown in FIG. 19B, the central tube 742 is preferably spacedaway from the inner wall of the spout 716 in order to define separateflowpaths through the central tube 742 and through the space between thecentral tube 742 and the spout 716. This configuration may be preferredfor transferring an anesthetic agent such as desflurane to thevaporizer, because provision must be made for the transfer ofpressurized vapor from the vaporizer to the container 714.

When the vaporizer has been filled, the handle 722 or container 714 isrotated in the opposite direction to move the spout 716 away from thebase 712, which closes the openings 740 and disengages the radiallyexpandable member 744 from the fluid port 746. From the precedingdescription, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art thatrotation is simply one way of allowing flow through the spout 716, soother means of retracting the spout 716 are within the scope of thepresent invention.

FIG. 20 shows an adapter 810 having a pivoting retainer 812 for securingan anesthetic agent container 814 to an anesthetic vaporizer, a portionof which is generally designated at 816. The adapter 810 illustrated inFIG. 20 may be better understood with further reference to theembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. The adapter 810 has a base 818 mountable onan anesthetic vaporizer 816, about a fluid port, which is not visible inFIG. 20. If the fluid port is movable with respect to the vaporizer 816,then the adapter 810 is preferably adapted to be movable with the fluidport. A sidewall 820 extends away from the base 818 to an upper end 822.The upper end 822 includes an opening, not visible in FIG. 20, forreceiving a portion of an anesthetic agent container 814, typically aspout thereof.

The pivoting retainer 812 may be pivotally connected to the adapter 810and extends away therefrom. Preferably, the pivoting retainer 812 isconnected to the adapter sidewall 820 so as to prevent interference withan anesthetic agent container 814 that is inserted into the fluid port.In FIG. 20, the pivoting retainer 812 is illustrated as a generallyrigid U-shaped bracket or stirrup with first and second legs 824 and 826that are connected to opposite lateral sides of the adapter sidewall820. The first and second legs 824 and 826 are connected to each otherby a transverse leg 828. If a rigid retainer is provided, then it may bedefined by a bent metal wire or as a molded plastic piece. Preferably,the legs of the retainer are shaped to accommodate an anesthetic agentcontainer that is fully inserted into the fluid port, as describedbelow.

As containers of various sizes may be used with the vaporizer, theretainer 812 is preferably removably connected to the adapter 810, suchthat the user may replace one retainer with another that is bettersuited for a particular container. Alternatively, the container 814 maybe provided with structures comparable to the first and second legs 824and 826 that are receivable by the sidewall 820 of the adapter 810.According to yet another embodiment, the pivoting retainer 812 may besubstantially comprised of a deformable or elastic material. This may bepreferred to a rigid or metal bracket, because a single retainer canaccommodate a wider variety of container sizes.

Initially, the pivoting retainer 812 is positioned in a generallydownward or upward condition, in terms of the orientation of FIG. 20,such that there is a clear path for an anesthetic agent container 814 tobe inserted into the vaporizer fluid port. When the container spout hasbeen at least partially inserted into the adapter 810, the pivotingretainer 812 is pivoted into the position of FIG. 20 for engagement witha portion of the container 814. It will be appreciated that the retainer812 engages the container 814 in order to prevent accidental separationof the adapter 810 and the spout during fluid transfer. The pivotingretainer 812 is illustrated in FIG. 20 as engaging a bottom end 830 ofthe container 814, but other configurations are possible. For example,the retainer may engage other portions of the container 814, such as aferrule or projection 832, if provided, in order to prevent accidentalremoval of the spout from the vaporizer 816.

Another example of a retention system for establishing fluidcommunication between an anesthetic agent container and an anestheticvaporizer is provided in FIGS. 21-23. More particularly, FIG. 21 shows agenerally tubular spout 910 associable with an anesthetic agentcontainer 912 and having a plurality of retaining posts 914 and 916 thatextend radially away from the spout 910, although it will be appreciatedfrom the following description that only one post may be necessary. Thespout 910 is configured to be received by an adapter 918 mountable aboutan anesthetic vaporizer fluid port, such as, but not limited to, anadapter of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23, the adapter 918 preferably has a base920 securable to an anesthetic vaporizer 922, surrounding a fluid port924. If the fluid port 924 is movable with respect to the vaporizer 922,then the adapter 918 is preferably adapted to be movable with the fluidport 924. A sidewall 926 extends away from the base 920 to an upper end928. The upper end 928 defines an opening or aperture 930 for receivingthe spout 910. The aperture 930 includes slots 932 and 934 for receivingthe retaining posts 914 and 916, respectively, as the spout 910 is movedinto the adapter 918. Each slot includes a lateral pocket 936, only oneof which is visible in FIG. 22, which is spaced away from the upper end928 of the adapter 918.

In use, the posts 914 and 916 are aligned with the slots 932 and 934,respectively, and the spout 910 is advanced into the adapter 918 and theassociated fluid port 924. When the spout 910 has been sufficientlyadvanced into the adapter 918, it is rotated to move the posts into thelateral pockets, illustrated in FIG. 23 for the first post 914 and thefirst pocket 936. Preferably, rotation of the spout 910 simultaneouslymoves the first retaining post 914 into the first pocket 936 and thesecond retaining post 916 into the second pocket, not illustrated. Whenthe posts are moved into the pockets, the spout cannot be removed fromthe adapter and fluid port without rotating the posts back intoalignment with the slots. Hence, it will be appreciated that the posts,the slots, and the pockets provide a bayonet locking or retentionsystem.

According to one embodiment, illustrated generally in FIG. 23, a portionof the spout 910 may contact the upper end 928 to form a fluid seal whenthe post 914 is received by the pocket 936. In another embodiment, atighter seal may be achieved by providing an adapter with a downwardlyspiraling or angled pocket, not illustrated, such that rotation of thepost into the pocket pulls the spout further into the adapter.

The spout and adapter may be provided with any number of mating postsand slots, and different orientations may be provided for differentanesthetic agents. In particular, if two slots 932 and 934 are provided,then they may be separated by an indexing angle a, as shown in FIG. 22.The indexing angle depends on the anesthetic agent to be delivered tothe vaporizer. For example, an adapter for desflurane may be providedwith two diametrically opposed slots, as illustrated in FIG. 22, whereasan enflurane adapter may instead have two slots separated by 90 degrees,such that only a spout having the correct post configuration may bereceived by the adapter. This provides a retention function, while alsopreventing the use of an improper anesthetic agent with the vaporizer.

FIGS. 24A and 24B illustrate an adapter 1010 having a shielding memberor splash guard 1012. As will be described herein, the shielding member1012 substantially prevents backspray of anesthetic agent from a fluidport of an anesthetic vaporizer when a spout of the adapter is receivedby the fluid port. In addition to the shielding member 1012, the adapter1010 further includes a base 1014 associable with an anesthetic agentcontainer 1016 and a generally tubular spout 1018 extending away fromthe base 1014. The spout 1018 is configured to be received by a fluidport 1020 of an anesthetic vaporizer, as illustrated in FIG. 24B.

The shielding member, which may be a generally annular structure, may beassociated with the base of the adapter, the spout, or both. In apreferred embodiment, best shown in FIG. 24B, the shielding member 1012has a frusto-conical profile extending distally from a minimum diameterto a maximum diameter d_(m). As shown in FIG. 24A, the adapter spout1018 may be provided with a locking ring 1022, according to the abovediscussion of the embodiment of FIGS. 15A-15C. If the adapter spoutincludes a locking ring suitable for use in a keyhole retention system,then the shielding member is preferably adapted to avoid interferencewith a curved slot of the vaporizer during fluid transfer.

In use, the spout 1018 is inserted into the fluid port 1020 of ananesthetic vaporizer. With the spout 1018 fully inserted into the fluidport 1020, the shielding member 1012 remains outside of the fluid port1020 during fluid transfer and is spaced from an upper lip 1024 of thefluid port 1020, as illustrated in FIG. 24B. Preferably, the maximumdiameter d_(m) of the shielding member 1012 is larger than the innerdiameter d_(i) of the fluid port upper lip 1024, such that liquid orvapor escaping from the fluid port 1020 during fluid transfer isintercepted and deflected by the shielding member 1012 before it cancome into contact with an operator. It will be appreciated by those ofordinary skill in the art that this aspect of the present invention maybe used alone or in combination with a number of the other embodimentsdescribed herein.

The amount of blowback or backspray from the fluid port depends on anumber of factors, such as the integrity of the fluid seal between thecontainer spout and the fluid port, the type of anesthetic beingtransferred, the nature of the anesthetic vaporizer, etc. In a preferredembodiment, which is believed to be well-suited for use with a typicaldesflurane container spout and desflurane vaporizer, the maximumdiameter d_(m) of the splash guard is at least approximately 50% greaterthan the inner diameter d_(i) of the fluid port upper lip. Such a splashguard will prevent desflurane blown out of the fluid port fromcontacting the operator. More preferably, for the same procedure, themaximum diameter d_(m) of the splash guard is in the range of betweenapproximately 75% and approximately 125% greater than the inner diameterd_(i) of the fluid port upper lip.

FIGS. 25-27B illustrate an adapter 1110 with a base 1112 which ismountable on an anesthetic agent container 1114. A generally tubularspout 1116 of the adapter 1110 extends away from the base 1112 to adistal end 1118 which is preferably topped by a sealing membrane 1120,illustrated in FIG. 26 as a split septum. The sealing membrane 1120 issurrounded by at least one through hole 1122 that passes through thedistal end 1118. A rotatable valve disk 1124 is associated with thedistal end 1118 of the spout 1116 and mounted for rotation with respectto the same. The rotatable valve disk 1124 includes a central opening1126, which allows access to the sealing membrane 1120, and at least onethrough hole 1128 that correspond generally to the through holes 1122 ofthe spout distal end 1118.

In a closed position, illustrated in FIG. 27A, the spout through holes1122 are misaligned with the disk through holes 1128, such that fluidmay not flow out of the anesthetic agent container 1114 associated withthe adapter 1110. When the term “misaligned” or any of its variationsare used herein with regard to the embodiment of FIGS. 25-27B, it isintended to refer to a situation wherein the spout through holes 1122are completely covered by the valve disk 1124, such that fluid cannotflow through the spout through holes 1122. However, if a disk throughhole 1128 at least partially overlays a spout through hole 1122, thenthey are aligned and in an open position that allows flow therethrough,as shown in FIG. 27B. Hence, it will be appreciated that this systemprovides an adapter valve assembly, as the term has been used herein.Thus, it is contemplated that an adapter valve assembly according tothis embodiment may be used with other aspects of the present inventionin order to regulate flow through a spout.

In use, the adapter spout 1116 is inserted into the fluid port 1130 ofan anesthetic vaporizer, not illustrated. A central pin 1132 of thefluid port 1130 is received by the central opening 1126 of the disk 1124and passes through the sealing membrane 1120 of the spout 1116. The disk1124 is then rotated to the position of FIG. 27B to bring the diskthrough holes 1128 into alignment with the spout through holes 1122,which allows fluid flow between the adapter 1110 and the vaporizer.Preferably, the sealing membrane 1120 is configured to receive thecentral pin 1132 and form a fluid seal therewith, such that flow throughthe central pin 1132 is substantially separated from flow through thethrough holes 1122 and 1128.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 27B, the disk 1124 issufficiently sized to form a fluid seal with the fluid port 1130. Thismay be preferred because it prevents fluid leakage and may also beadapted to allow the fluid port 1130 to grip the disk 1124 while thecontainer 1114 is rotated by a user to rotate the associated spout 1116and bring it into an open position. If the disk is intended to form afluid seal with the fluid port, then it may be surrounded by an o-ringor other elastomeric or deformable member, not illustrated, or it mayitself be substantially comprised of an elastomeric or deformablematerial.

In another embodiment, the valve disk may be biased to the closedposition in order to further avoid leakage during handling. This may beaccomplished by any of a number of means, such as a torsion spring thatmust be overcome to align the disk through holes with the spout throughholes.

A tactile, visual, or audible indicator may be provided to signal thatthe spout and disk are in an open position. For example, the disk maymake a “clicking” noise when it is moved between closed and openpositions. This is merely one possible indicating means and those ofordinary skill in the art will recognize that others are available andmay be practiced with this aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 32 illustrates another embodiment of a container retention system.The system includes an anesthetic agent container or bottle 1400 housingan amount of anesthetic agent, a vaporizer fluid port 1402 adapted toreceive a spout 1404 of the container 1400, and a weighted member 1406.The container 1400, spout 1404, and fluid port 1402 may be providedaccording to known design and operation.

A vaporizer valve assembly associated with the fluid port 1402 and aspout valve assembly associated with the spout 1404 may be providedaccording to known design or the designs described herein and are biasedto a closed position, typically by a spring, so the spout 1404 must bepressed into the fluid port 1402 to maintain the vaporizer valveassembly and spout valve assembly in an open condition for fluidtransfer. In prior art systems and selected systems described herein,the spout 1404 is held in the fluid port 1402 by a portion of one of thespout 1404 or fluid port 1402 latching onto a portion of the other.While these systems are effective in securing the container 1400 to thefluid port 1402, users unfamiliar with the particular retentionmechanism may not understand how to actuate it and instead manually holdthe container 1400 in the fluid port 1402 during the entire fillingprocess. This occupies at least one of the user's hands and prevents theuser from stepping away from the fluid port 1402 during the fillingprocess, to tend to or monitor another aspect of the anesthesia system,for example.

The container retention system of FIG. 32 addresses this problem withthe weighted member 1406. The illustrated weighted member 1406 isgenerally cup-shaped and adapted to rest on a closed end 1408 of thecontainer 1400 when the spout 1404 is positioned within the fluid port1402. While the illustrated weighted member is adapted to engage theclosed end 1408, differently shaped weighted members may be adapted toengage different portions of the container 1400. Furthermore, theweighted member 1406 may be placed onto the container 1400 after thespout 1404 is inserted into the fluid port 1402 or the container 1400may be inserted into the weighted member 1406 before the spout 1404 isinserted into the fluid port 1402.

The weighted member 1406 is sufficiently heavy that it holds thecontainer spout 1404 in the fluid port 1402, thereby overcoming thesprings (or other biasing means) of the vaporizer valve assembly andspout valve assembly and maintaining them in an open condition. It willbe seen that such a container retention system is simple to use and theuser, or one supervising the user, can easily confirm that the containeris secured during the filling process.

When the vaporizer has been sufficiently filled, the weighted member1406 and container 1400 may be removed, either separately or together.The weighted member 1406 may be removed at any time during the fillingprocess to temporarily close fluid communication between the container1400 and the vaporizer.

It is contemplated that the weighted member may be provided as anintegral component of the container, but this may not be preferredbecause it will increase the weight of the container during transport.Accordingly, it is preferred for the weighted member to be removablyassociable with the container.

The composition of the weighted member is partially dependent on thestrength of the vaporizer valve assembly and the spout valve assemblyand the force required to maintain them in an open condition. The sizeof the weighted member is another consideration, because a heaviermaterial allows for a smaller and more manageable weighted member,whereas a lighter material may require a larger and more cumbersomeweighted member. In one embodiment, the weighted member may besubstantially comprised of a metal material, such as a ferrous metalmaterial. For many commercial vaporizers, a force of at leastapproximately 10 lbf is typically sufficient to maintain an open flowpath between the container and the vaporizer, and a weighted membersubstantially comprised of a ferrous metal material provides asufficient force without being unduly large. Other materials may be usedalone or in combination with each other, such as a composite weightedmember (not illustrated) having a core comprising a relatively heavymaterial at least partially surrounded by a layer of softer or lighteror color-coded material.

The weighted member may also take any of a number of forms, but thecup-shaped weighted member 1406 of FIG. 32 may be preferred. Forexample, when the vaporizer is not in use, the weighted member 1406 maybe seated on the fluid port 1402 as a plug or cover to ensure that thevaporizer valve assembly is not inadvertently opened. The weightedmember 1406 may be secured to the fluid port 1402 by a number ofsuitable means, including a press fit and mating threads.

The weighted member 1406 may also be provided with features forimproving grip or handling. For example, the embodiment of FIG. 32includes a plurality of windows 1410 that provide for convenient fingerplacement during installation and removal of the weighted member 1406from the container 1400.

FIG. 33 illustrates an embodiment of a system 1500 that simplifies andshortens the filling and removal processes. The filling system 1500includes an adapter 1502 having a base 1504, a generally tubular spout1506 extending distally from the base 1504, and a container valveactuator 1508 extending proximally from the base 1504. The spout 1506and container valve actuator 1508 combine to define a fluid flow paththrough the adapter 1502, as generally described and illustrated hereinwith respect to the various other embodiments. The spout 1506 mayinclude a sealing member 1510 to form a fluid seal with a vaporizerfluid port 1512, and a locking member 1514 for locking the adapter 1502to the fluid port 1512. The sealing member and locking member may takevirtually any form, including the form of the sealing members andlocking members described herein with respect to adapters mountable onanesthetic agent containers.

An anesthetic agent container 1516 has an open end that is covered by acontainer valve 1518, which is adapted to engage the adapter 1502 whilethe adapter 1502 is locked to the fluid port 1512. The adapter 1502 mayinclude a generally tubular sidewall 1520 extending proximally from thebase 1504 to act as a guide for a container valve 1518 being moved intoengagement with the container valve actuator 1508. The container valve1518 is movable between a closed position, which prevents flow ofanesthetic agent out of the container 1516, and an open position, whichallows flow out of the container 1516, by engagement with the containervalve actuator 1508 of the adapter 1502. The container valve 1518 andthe container valve actuator 1508 can take a number of forms. Forexample, in the embodiment of FIG. 33, the container valve actuator 1508is a rigid tubular member, which is suitable for use with a containervalve 1518 comprising a resealable membrane, such as a split septum (notillustrated). In another embodiment, a container valve 1518 comprising afrangible membrane, such as a thin sheet of foil, may be used with theillustrated container valve actuator 1508, although this may not be aspreferred as a resealable container valve.

Another embodiment includes a container valve and a container valveactuator provided as spring-biased valves that open each other,simultaneously or sequentially, when the container is moved into theadapter. Any of a number of known spring-biased valve systems may beincorporated into this aspect of the present invention, including thevalve systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,381,836 and 5,617,906 toBraatz et al., previously incorporated herein by reference, and in U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0075241 to Videbrink, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference. A container valve actuator witha resealable valve or membrane may be preferred to one providing anunobstructed flow path through the adapter, as will be described ingreater detail herein.

The adapter 1502 is locked to the vaporizer fluid port 1512 prior touse. In the illustrated embodiment, a latch pin 1522 extends through awall of the fluid port 1512. The portion of the latch pin 1522 withinthe fluid port 1512 includes a latch 1524 that is laterally movable bypressing the latch pin 1522. To install the adapter 1502, the latch pin1522 is pressed to move the latch 1524, and the adapter spout 1502 isthen moved into the fluid port 1512. The latch pin 1522 is then releasedor moved to its initial position, which returns the latch 1524 to itsinitial position, thereby engaging the locking member 1514 and securingthe adapter 1502 within the fluid port 1512. In this position, the spout1506 is held against a vaporizer adapter assembly, which may be similarto known designs and the designs described herein, thereby opening afluid flow path into the vaporizer. Hence, it may be preferred to usethe adapter 1502 with a vaporizer having a stop cock, as describedherein, to forestall vapor escape from the vaporizer after the vaporizervalve assembly has been opened. Alternatively, the container valveactuator 1508 of the adapter 1502 may comprise a resealable valve ormembrane, such as a spring-biased valve or split septum (similar toelement 1120 of FIG. 26), to prevent vapor escape. If such a resealablevalve or membrane is provided, then the adapter 1502 may be used withthe stop cock in an open position or used with a vaporizer lacking astop cock.

An adapter 1502 according to this aspect of the present invention may bepermanently affixed to the fluid port 1512, but it may be preferred toprovide it as a removable component to effectively give the vaporizer asecond filling mode. When the vaporizer is provided without the adapter1502, it is in a “standard fill” mode, whereby fluid flow is establishedby: (1) pressing the latch pin 1522 to displace the latch 1524, (2)moving a container spout into the fluid port 1512, (3) releasing thelatch pin 1522 to lock the container spout in the fluid port 1512, and(4) operating the stop cock. In contrast, when the vaporizer is providedwith the adapter 1502, it is in a “rapid fill” mode, whereby fluid flowis established by: (1) pressing the container valve 1518 against thecontainer valve actuator 1508 and (2) operating the stop cock. This“rapid fill” mode is even further simplified to a single step ofpressing the container valve 1518 against the container valve actuator1508 if the container valve actuator 1508 comprises a resealable valveor membrane according to the foregoing description. The removal process,which is essentially the steps of the filling process performed inreverse order, is similarly shortened. Therefore, it will be seen thatadapters according to this aspect of the present invention shorten thefilling and removal processes, which is especially valuable forvaporizers in frequent use. As such adapters have less built-in safetymechanisms than typical vaporizer filling systems, it may be preferredthat they be used by experienced users or professional technicians.

It will be understood that the embodiments described above areillustrative of some of the applications of the principles of thepresent invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,including those combinations of features that are individually disclosedor claimed herein. For these reasons, the scope of the invention is notlimited to the above description but is as set forth in the followingclaims.

1. An adapter used to connect an anesthetic agent container to avaporizer fluid port, the adapter comprising: a base connectable to ananesthetic agent container; a spout that extends from the base anddefines at least one flow path therethrough, the spout having alongitudinal axis; a valve assembly disposed within the at least oneflow path, the valve assembly being moveable between a first positionwherein the at least one flow path is open and a second position whereinthe at least one flow path is closed; and a radially expandable sealdisposed about the spout, the seal having a first end, a second end, andan intermediate region between the first and second ends that expandsradially outward relative to the longitudinal axis, the valve assemblyhaving a surface that cooperates with the radially expandable seal,wherein the cooperation between the surface and the radially expandableseal expands the intermediate region radially outward relative to thelongitudinal axis with the valve assembly in the first position.
 2. Theadapter according to claim 1, wherein the spout has a first end and asecond end attached to the base, and the radially expandable sealcomprises a sleeve through which the first end of the spout is disposed.3. The adapter according to claim 2, wherein the spout has a spoutlength from the first end to the second end, the sleeve has a sleevelength between opposing ends, and the spout length is longer than thesleeve length.
 4. The adapter according to claim 2, wherein the sleevehas at least one first region having a first region thickness and atleast one second region having a second region thickness, the firstregion thickness being greater than the second region thickness.
 5. Theadapter according to claim 4, wherein the sleeve has a plurality offirst regions and a plurality of second regions, each of the secondregions disposed between a pair of the first regions.
 6. The adapteraccording to claim 1, wherein the spout comprises a lip and furthercomprising a collar that is disposed about the spout and that movesaxially relative to the longitudinal axis, the radially expandable sealdisposed between the lip of the spout and the collar.
 7. The adapteraccording to claim 6, wherein the spout has a first region with an outersurface having a first diameter and the collar has an inner surfacehaving a second diameter, the collar being received on the first regionof the spout and the second diameter being larger than the firstdiameter.
 8. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the radiallyexpandable seal has an inner surface in communication with the at leastone flow path and the valve assembly comprises a body portion and a headportion, the head portion being wider than the body portion and theinner surface of the radially expandable seal.
 9. The adapter accordingto claim 1, wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric material.
 10. Theadapter according to claim 9, wherein the seal comprises at least one ofsilicone, neoprene, synthetic rubber, and natural rubber.